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Offenses and Penalties

The Driver Responsibility Program calls for monetary sanctions for drivers who:

Accumulate seven or more points on their driving record (Category 1), or

Are convicted of specific qualifying offenses (Category 2)

Only driving offenses with arrest or incident dates on, or after, October 1, 2003, will be counted. Points accumulated prior to October 2, 2003 are not eligible for consideration under this new law.

Category 1 Points

Category 1 offenses, such as speeding, improper turns, and following too closely, are assessed a fee based on the number of points on the driving record, with a required minimum of seven points. The fees assessed begin at $100 and increase by $50 for each additional point above seven points.

7 Points $100

8 Points $150

9 Points $200

10 Points $250

11 Points $300

12 Points $350

13 Points $400

14 Points $450

15 Points $500

Drivers assessed a fee for seven or more points under Category 1 will be assessed only once per year. Category 1 fees will not be assessed in any year in which the number of points on a driving record falls below seven.

Certain offenses are classified as "qualifying offenses" and carry their own driver responsibility fee independent from the number of points on the driving record. Drivers convicted of qualifying offenses will be assessed a driver responsibility fee of $150, $200, $500 or $1,000 for two consecutive years. The amount is determined by the relative seriousness of the offense. For example:

Drunk Driving (Operating While Intoxicated) = $1,000

Reckless Driving = $500

No Proof of Insurance = $200*

Drove While License Expired = $150*

Points from Category 2 offenses and convictions are NOT counted toward the point total for Category 1.

Multiple driver responsibility fees are assessed if a driver is convicted of multiple qualifying offenses under Category 2.

Driver responsibility fees are assessed for two consecutive years for Category 2 convictions. The second year's fees will be assessed on the anniversary date of the first year's fees.

* Incident dates on or after 10/1/2012 will not have these fees accessed.

Fee Assessments and Payments

A driver may pay the driver responsibility fee assessments in
full or enter into an approved installment agreement for up to 24 months. Failure to
make timely payments will result in an indefinite suspension of a driver's license.
A reinstatement fee of $125 is required before the license is reinstated.

Once a driver's license has been suspended for nonpayment of
driver responsibility fees, under certain conditions driving privileges may be
reinstated if a driver enters into an approved
Installment Agreement
with the Michigan Department of Treasury. The reinstatement fee of
$125 may be included in the approved Installment Agreement.